Problems with 1/4" seam on bernina 830

[Rita C.]

I'm having challenges with the 1/4" seam on my 830. Are you using your bernina 830 to piece quilt tops? Are there any tricks /tips to have a "perfect 1/4" seam"? My main issue is to keep the fabric aligned to the edge of the 1/4" foot since the right side feed dogs do not hold the fabric. This happens a lot at the end of the seam, where the fabric tends to move slightly to the left. I'm using the dual feed but still have the problem.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,

[Hannelore N.]

Limbania, I don't have an 830, but have had similar problems with other machines in the past. It's always been because the 1/4-inch foot did not sit centred on the feetdogs and so there was just enough 'pull' to sometimes make my piecing inaccurate (and I'm not fussy, so it must have been quite bad). My solution to the problem: I use a foot that sit nicely centred and then move the needle (normally to the left) until I get that exact 1/4 inch. I now have the needle setting I need for that written in permanent marker on the actual machine so that I don't forget.

[Pam D.]

Limbania, this is Margo's answer to the perfect 1/4 inch seam which is brilliant!

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569415726bHNKHF

I think a lot of folk use a stiletto to hold the fabric at the end of a seam to stop it moving so much, and or 'stoppers and starters' Small pieces of fabric to add to the beginning and end of a seam like chain piecing which you cut away afterwards. Hopefully somone else can explain this better than I can or come up with a better solution.

[Susan B.]

There are clear feet for the 9mm machines that help visibility and help hold the fabric on wide feed dogs Straight stitch throat plates help also, as do fine needles and fine thread. The perfect seam is a never ending challenge isn't it? I've been at it since the 2009 BOM and still trying. After reading a bit of Sally Collins' book Mastering Precision Piecing, I've started looking at every seam before pressing to make sure it's not wonky, so it's easy to unsew. She says to "analyze every step of the way & fix it before moving on." I find the biggest challenge in maintaining 1/4" over the spot where multiple seams meet. She also shows how to clip so pressing is easier. Oh, to be to her level of perfection, won't happen in this lifetime

I'm back to piecing on a 5mm machine with straight stitch throat plate, Aurifil, 75 needle and 1/4 foot, stiletto, and lots of patience.

By the way, there are great Youtube videos out on Leaders and Enders quilts that stitch up quickly when piecing other quilts, a great excuse to get an Accuquilt machine.

Having fun!

[Rita C.]

Limbania, here is a video tutorial of Margo's method to get a perfect 1/4" seam. I have it saved to my favourites so that I can get at it when I want to. Hope that helps.

http://daily-blog/103-good-advice/14...-seam-accuracy

Further to that, once I have drawn the perfect 1/4" line on the masking tape I then put two strips of masking tape on the right of the drawn line and I find that gives me a little ridge which I can butt my fabric up against as it goes through the machine so that I don't go off towards the end.

Hope this helps.

[Betty J.]

Margo's test is wonderful and I ran it on my 830 when I first got it. I found I do not have a problem with a quarter inch seam if I 1) use the single stitch plate, 2) use foot 37D with the dual feed engaged, 3) adjust the seam allowance slightly for the thread and fabric I am using per Margo's suggestion, and 4) use the blue tape per Margo's suggestion along with what Margo calls a "starty/stoppy". Hope you find this helps.

[E.M. T.]

All the tips and tricks afore mentioned are great ! I have an 820 and find that because of the 9mm ...I need to change
the needle position in order to have the presser foot and the feed dogs do their job correctly... That is..holding the fabrics
where they belong. I move my needle 2 or 3 "clicks" to the right to find my scant 1/4 in. using Margo's method to check up often.

[E.M. T.]

I've struggled with this on my 820! Finally, what works best for me is the 34D foot (which I think is just a transparent version of the 1D foot) with the needle moved over almost all the way to the right. I was not getting good results with the 37D and 57D feet, which was a real disappointment. I do my precision piecing on a 5.5mm Bernina, with the 37 or 57 foot. I only use the 820 for piecing strips and squares, when I think the hover feature, the dual feed, and/or the scissors will outweigh the disadvantages of the 9mm feed dogs for piecing. Other 8 series owners don't seem to have this trouble, so I think it's all what one is used to. The only 9mm machines that I've had that are good for piecing are the Pfaff 7510 and Baby Lock Quest Plus. The QP has 8 point feed dogs, with dogs in front of a behind the needle hole. I'm really glad I kept my 440 for piecing

[E.M. T.]

Pretty much the same with me...my second machine is an older Viking Quilt Designer . She sews
a most steady seam and I use it when fussiness is important ! A single hole plate helps on the 820
and the other features do help the workhorse piecing and quilting! I wish I had kept my 440QE!
Wouldn't it be nice if one machine could do it ALL !??

[E.M. T.]

Thank you ladies for all your tips. I'm glad I kept my 440qe although for now I don't have enough room to have both machines set up. I'll be trying your recommendations and hopefully figure it out or switch back and forth until I can have both machines set up.

[Barbara L.]

I only have that problem if I don't use my single hole plate. The 9mm & 5mm tend to suck the fabric down into the feed dogs. :evil: However, I have had this challenge with any machine that I own. Using the single hole plate, I have accurate 1/4 " seams.

[Betty J.]

I only have that problem if I don't use my single hole plate. The 9mm & 5mm tend to suck the fabric down into the feed dogs. :evil: However, I have had this challenge with any machine that I own. Using the single hole plate, I have accurate 1/4 " seams.

Yes, I don't have the problem either if I use the single hole plate. The dual feed also helps.